When the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks (3-2) play the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics (2-3) In Eastern Conference Semifinal Games 6, they will strive to move to the conference finals. The game starts at 7:30 pm. ET. at the Fiserv Forum (ESPN). We examine the Celtics vs. Bucks odds and lines and give our expert NBA selections, predictions, and bets below.
Milwaukee recovered from a 9-point hole entering the fourth quarter of Game 5 to defeat the Celtics 110-107 in Boston.
Jrue Holiday, the Bucks’ all-world defensive PG, made two incredible defensive plays in the closing minute against Celtics PG Marcus Smart to turn the course of Game 5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ two-time MVP, had another memorable game, scoring 40 points on 59.3 percent shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds.
In this series, these teams are tied 2-2-1 against the spread (ATS), and the total is 2-3 Over/Under (O/U).
Odds and lines for the Celtics vs. the Bucks
OKBET Sportsbook provides the odds; for a comprehensive list, go here. At 8:15 a.m. ET, the lines were last updated.
- Celtics +100 (bet 100 to win 100) vs. Bucks -120 (bet 120 to win $100)
- Against the spread, the Celtics are +1.5 (-112), and the Bucks are -1.5. (-108)
- Over/Under: 211.5 (-107 | -115)
Key injuries for the Celtics and Bucks
Celtics
PF Bucks uncertain Robert Williams III (knee)
Bucks
Khris Middleton (knee) is out.
Games 6 Picks and projections for the Celtics vs. the Milwaukee Bucks
Prediction
Bucks 107, Celtics 101
Moneyline
TAKE THE BUCKS (-120) because the Celtics (+100) have failed to stop Giannis in this series, and Milwaukee’s role players will come up and score clutch baskets at home.
Giannis can carry the Bucks to victory with a pair of 3-pointers from PF Bobby Portis, SG Pat Connaughton, or SG Grayson Allen at the end of the day.
Boston will lose this series due to a lack of a floor general. Smart has dipped in basketball IQ and tries to do too much at times, which Holiday and Milwaukee’s defense may take advantage of.
In this series, the Celtics have already lost two games with the ball in Smart’s hands after regulation. During the regular season, Boston ranked 26th in clutch net rating (minus-9.5). A 5-point margin decides clutch games in the last five minutes of play.
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On the other side, Games 6 Milwaukee Bucks finished second in clutch net rating in the regular season at plus-15.9 and has a plus-4.7 net rating in the clutch for this series.
Finally, the Bucks surpass the Celtics in ball security and rebounding, two areas where teams gain possessions. Shooting and free-throw attempt rates fluctuate, but Milwaukee should score more points if it can continue to dominate the possession fight.
BET on the BUCKS (-120) to beat the Celtics (+100).
Against the spread
LEAN to the BUCKS -1.5 (-108) against the spread because it should cash, but Milwaukee’s ML is just 15 cents on the dollar more costly, so why bother with a distance?
LEAN UNDER 211.5 (-115) since it looks like the short side because it is cheaper than 211.5 (-107). The defensive effort will be maximized because this is an elimination game, and the tempo will most likely be slower.
Over/Under
However, there is minimal reversal line movement heading south of the total since most of the handle is on the Under, but the Celtics-Bucks total has been reduced from a 212-point opening.
